Episode 217 - Support, Strength & Saying It As It Is - Living with Secondary Cancer

Episode 217 - Support, Strength & Saying It As It Is - Living with Secondary Cancer

In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Lisa, founder of Make 2nds Count and The House of Hope charity in Edinburgh, who is living with secondary breast cancer while continuing to support so many others. This is an honest, heartfelt conversation about what it really means to live with ongoing cancer treatment. I ask Lisa if she feels excluded from other menopause conversations and even from the many cancer chats out there. We talk about saying it as it is, the emotional reality of menopause and secondary cancer, and the strategies that help day-to-day, alongside the strength, purpose and perspective that can still exist within it all. Lisa’s work has been a shining light for me personally, especially when I was building Menopause and Cancer and recording this episode while one of our community support sessions was taking place at The House of Hope felt like a real full-circle moment. We also share more about our upcoming Menopause Awareness Day event on the 18th June, which we’ll be marking at The House of Hope. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter here https://menopauseandcancer.org/ [https://menopauseandcancer.org/], and we will let you know of all of our upcoming events! Episode Highlights: 00:00 Intro 03:55 Founding Scotland's first support center 09:31 Menopause and cancer diagnosis discussions 12:52 Discussing treatment decisions and surgery 18:27 Discussing menopause treatment options 20:36 Navigating menopause and chemo challenges 26:06 Founding a Make 2nds Count and The House of Hope 27:50 Starting a charity from my hospital bed 33:34 Charitable collaborations and community building 37:59 Balancing work and mindfulness 40:25 Menopause workshop Links: House of Hope: https://houseofhope.org.uk/ [https://houseofhope.org.uk/] Make 2nds count: https://make2ndscount.co.uk/ [https://make2ndscount.co.uk/] Connect with us: For more information and resources visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org [https://www.menopauseandcancer.org] Or follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer [https://www.instagram.com/menopause_and_cancer/] Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub [https://www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub/]

Episode 216 - Is It Brain Fog… or ADHD?

In this episode, I’m joined by GP and menopause specialist Dr Helen Wall, and we’re exploring something that so many of you have been talking about in our community — struggling with brain fog, focus, memory, total overwhelm, and that feeling of just not feeling like you can manage anymore. We often call it brain fog. But what if, for some of us, it could be something more? Today, we’re diving into ADHD in women, and how it can show up — or become more noticeable — during menopause and after, especially cancer treatment. Because the reality is, many women are only being diagnosed later in life. And for those of us navigating sudden menopause, hormonal changes, and the impact of cancer treatment, it can feel even more confusing to understand what’s really going on in our brains. This episode is here to help you make sense of it all. We also talk about: How do I know what’s what? Does lifestyle help my ADHD brain? Can you take ADHD medication after cancer? And so much more. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Intro 06:55 Discussing menopause and mental load 10:04 Navigating neurodivergence and perimenopause 16:24 ADHD, oestrogen, and perimenopause link 17:58 The impact of menopause on brain function 22:38 Lack of education on female hormones 25:43 Understanding ADHD in women and girls 28:07 Challenges with post-cancer employment and support 34:08 ADHD medication challenges and support 39:24 ADHD and diet considerations 44:45 Navigating ADHD and menopause You can find Helen’s book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Menopause-ADHD-neurodivergence-Vermilion-Empowered/dp/178504642X [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Menopause-ADHD-neurodivergence-Vermilion-Empowered/dp/178504642X] And this is Helen’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctorhelenwall/ [https://www.instagram.com/doctorhelenwall/] Connect with us: For more information and resources visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org [https://www.menopauseandcancer.org] Or follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer [https://www.instagram.com/menopause_and_cancer/] Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub [https://www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub/]

Episode 215 - Bone Health After Cancer & Menopause: What Every Survivor Needs to Know

In this episode, I’m joined by Lindsey Lester, a British Menopause Society-accredited specialist and breast cancer survivor, for an essential conversation on bone health after cancer and menopause. Bone health is one of the most common — and least talked about — long-term effects of cancer treatment. Whether your menopause was triggered suddenly by treatment or has developed over time, the impact on your bones can be significant. We explore how treatments such as chemotherapy, endocrine therapies (including tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors), steroids, and treatment-induced menopause can all affect bone density — across different types of cancer, not just breast cancer. We also talk about who may be most at risk, how quickly bone density can change, and why bone loss is often called a “silent” condition — with many people not realising until much later. A key part of this conversation is understanding DEXA scans — when to have one, how often to monitor your bone health, and what it really means if you’re told you have osteopenia or osteoporosis. But most importantly, this episode is about what you can do. From nutrition and movement to medications and monitoring, Lindsey shares clear, practical ways to protect your bones — and answers one of the biggest questions so many people have after cancer: Can we improve our bone health without HRT? This episode will help you feel more informed, more in control, and better equipped to make decisions about your long-term health. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Intro 06:09 Participant introductions and background questions 09:00 Discussing osteoporosis awareness plan 13:03 Postmenopausal bone health risks 15:16 Discussing bone health awareness 20:08 Young people unaware of health risks 22:49 Discussing tamoxifen and ovarian function 28:51 Experiencing medical and surgical menopause 31:37 Calcium and vitamin D for bone health 39:52 Tracking calcium on a vegan diet 44:54 Discussing exercise for bone health 49:30 Cholesterol management with exercise 51:47 Benefits of building muscle Here are some links we mentioned: https://theros.org.uk/information-and-support/bone-health/nutrition-for-bones/calcium/calcium-rich-food-chooser/ [https://theros.org.uk/information-and-support/bone-health/nutrition-for-bones/calcium/calcium-rich-food-chooser/] https://strwebstgmedia.blob.core.windows.net/media/0lhowmrk/about-exercise-fact-sheet-february-2019.pdf [https://strwebstgmedia.blob.core.windows.net/media/0lhowmrk/about-exercise-fact-sheet-february-2019.pdf] You can find Lindsey here: https://healthinmenopause.co.uk/meet-the-team/ [https://healthinmenopause.co.uk/meet-the-team/] Connect with us: For more information and resources visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org [https://www.menopauseandcancer.org] Or follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer [https://www.instagram.com/menopause_and_cancer/] Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub [https://www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub/]

Episode 214 - What It Really Feels Like & And Your Questions Answered

In this episode, I’m doing something a little different. I’m sharing real stories of who I met, what went on in our menopause after cancer community, and real experiences of what menopause after cancer actually feels like. The parts that often go unspoken. * I mull over if menopause after cancer needs a rebrand? * What does it mean to set realistic expectations? And alongside that, I’m answering your questions. From hair to how long does menopause last to GLP-1’s and risk — this is a space to bring it all together. Because so often, we’re told what should happen… but not what it really feels like to live through it. And because sometimes the best meaning advice is hard to implement for yourself - right at the end, I’m reading a beautiful poem to you by Jeff Foster - it’s called: Slow Down Friend. You’re not alone in this. And there are ways to feel better. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Intro 05:42 Discussing menopause after cancer support 17:40 Answering listener questions on hair thinning 20:54 Diagnosing and treating hair loss 23:04 Discussing hair fibres and re-growth helmets 25:55 Discussing menopause after ovary removal 29:33 Managing cancer treatment and lifestyle risks 32:11 Considering whole patient health 35:26 Finding solace in the poem, Slow Down Friend Episode mentions: Episode 118: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ep-118-what-is-the-evidence-between-hrt-and-breast/id1631842514?i=1000666722248 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ep-118-what-is-the-evidence-between-hrt-and-breast/id1631842514?i=1000666722248] Episode 191: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/episode-191-i-cant-shift-the-weight-should-i-consider/id1631842514?i=1000736358058 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/episode-191-i-cant-shift-the-weight-should-i-consider/id1631842514?i=1000736358058] Connect with us: For more information and resources visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org [https://www.menopauseandcancer.org] Or follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer [https://www.instagram.com/menopause_and_cancer/] Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub [https://www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub/]

Episode 213 - Black Cohosh, Red Clover & Ashwagandha: Are They Safe After Cancer

When you’re thrown into menopause after breast cancer treatment, the symptoms can feel relentless: hot flushes, insomnia, anxiety, joint pain, low mood to name a few. And when conventional options feel limited, it is understandable that many people begin looking into herbal medicine. But then the confusion starts. - What herbal medicine actually is — and what it isn’t - Is black cohosh safe? - What about red clover and phyto-oestrogens? - Are adaptogens like ashwagandha helpful — or risky? - Could herbs interfere with endocrine therapy? In this episode, we are joined by Melinda MacDougall, a qualified medical herbalist and we will go through all of your many questions. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Intro 03:50 What Is Herbal Medicine? 18:49 "Holistic Approach to Herbal Healing" 19:57 "Tamoxifen and Herbal Interactions" 24:47 Black Cohosh: Menopause Symptom Relief 29:56 "Skullcap & Lemon Balm Benefits" 33:00 "Black Cohosh for Menopause" 34:38 Holistic Self-Care Matters 41:14 "Sea Buckthorn Supplement Tips" 43:55 "Misleading Supplements" 48:20 "Adaptogens: Stress-Modulating Herbs" 53:26 "Plant Oestrogens" Here are some helpful links: You can find Melinda here: https://www.melindamcdougall.com/ Here is an article on herbal medicine: https://menopauseandcancer.org/herbal-medicine-for-menopause-after-cancer-current-research/ [https://menopauseandcancer.org/herbal-medicine-for-menopause-after-cancer-current-research/] Here is a great blog that lists Tamoxifen contraindications: https://owise.uk/tamoxifen-what-you-should-avoid/ [https://owise.uk/tamoxifen-what-you-should-avoid/] Connect with us: For more information and resources visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org [https://www.menopauseandcancer.org] Or follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer [https://www.instagram.com/menopause_and_cancer/] Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub [https://www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub/]